Others
Others or The Others may refer to various topics in popular culture, including fictional characters in literature, film, television, and animation; works of literature such as novels and short stories; and elements in music like groups, labels, albums, and songs.Fictional characters
In literature and comics
In George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, the Others are depicted as supernatural ice creatures serving as primary antagonists to humanity, emerging from the far north beyond the Wall.[1] Introduced in the 1996 novel A Game of Thrones, they possess abilities such as animating the dead as wights to bolster their forces and wielding crystalline swords that shatter steel, while their presence brings extreme cold.[1] These beings are vulnerable to weapons forged from dragonglass (obsidian) and Valyrian steel, which can kill them outright, underscoring themes of ancient enmity between humans and these enigmatic, otherworldly foes.[1][2] In Jean M. Auel's Earth's Children series, the term "Others" refers to Neanderthals as viewed by the Cro-Magnon protagonists, emphasizing cultural and biological differences in a prehistoric world.[3][4] Beginning with the 1980 novel The Clan of the Cave Bear, the series spans six books and explores themes of otherness, prejudice, and potential coexistence through the story of Ayla, a Cro-Magnon orphan adopted by a Neanderthal clan who regard her kind as the "Others."[3][4] This nomenclature highlights the Neanderthals' insular society, governed by rigid spiritual laws and taboos, contrasting with the more innovative Cro-Magnons and driving narratives of adaptation and conflict across Ice Age Europe.[3][4] Sergei Lukyanenko's Night Watch series portrays the Others as humans awakened to supernatural abilities, forming the core of an urban fantasy conflict between Light and Dark factions. Debuting in the 1998 Russian novel Night Watch, these beings include magicians, shape-shifters, vampires, and healers who enter a parallel realm called the Twilight, policing each other's actions through organizations like the Night Watch (Light Others) and Day Watch (Dark Others). The series, translated into English starting in 2006, centers on Anton Gorodetsky, a Night Watch agent navigating the fragile treaty that prevents open war among the Others, who live secretly among ordinary humans in modern Moscow.[5] In DC Comics' Aquaman titles within the Prime Earth continuity, established post-2011 Flashpoint event, the Others form a covert team of Atlantean descendants dedicated to safeguarding ancient relics from exploitation.[6] Originating in the 2012 New 52 reboot during Aquaman #7-10, the group includes Aquaman (Arthur Curry), Mera, the Operative (a master spy with global connections), the Prisoner of War (Dominick Torrez, an enhanced soldier), Ya'Wara (an Amazonian warrior controlling jungle life), Vostok-X (a Soviet-era cyborg), and others like Sky Alchesay (a Navajo sharpshooter).[6] Featured prominently in the 2014 six-issue Aquaman and the Others miniseries, they confront threats tied to Atlantean artifacts, including the Dead King—a spectral Atlantean warlord wielding forbidden weapons—and protect against scavengers seeking to unleash ancient powers. This iteration emphasizes their role as guardians formed in response to historical Atlantean betrayals, predating Aquaman's Justice League involvement.[7]In film, television, and animation
In the television series Lost, the Others represent a enigmatic group of native island inhabitants who serve as primary antagonists to the crash survivors of Oceanic Flight 815. Introduced in the second season premiere "Man of Science, Man of Faith" on September 21, 2005, they are depicted as a secretive society led by Benjamin Linus, portrayed by Michael Emerson, who manipulates events to protect the island's mysteries. Their backstory reveals origins tied to the island's protector Jacob, who recruited members like Richard Alpert as early as 1867 to safeguard the island from external threats, including violent conflicts with the Dharma Initiative scientific expedition in the 1970s that involved purges and abductions. The Others employ psychological tactics, such as kidnapping survivors for recruitment or experimentation, to maintain control and perpetuate the island's isolation, underscoring themes of faith, destiny, and moral ambiguity throughout the series.[8][9][10] The animated series Beast Wars: Transformers features the Vok, an advanced alien race also referred to as the Others, who monitor prehistoric Earth as part of an evolutionary experiment. Debuting in the season 1 episode "Other Voices" on October 6, 1997, the Vok appear as ethereal, energy-based entities existing beyond conventional space and time, deploying holographic projections and advanced technology to observe and intervene subtly in the Transformers' conflicts. Their influence drives key plot arcs, including the deployment of a planet-destroying device in the season 2 finale "Other Victories" to eradicate perceived contaminants like the Maximals and Predacons, forcing characters like Optimus Primal to confront ethical dilemmas about interference in natural history and the hubris of alien oversight. This portrayal highlights the Vok's role in escalating the series' stakes, blending technological marvels with philosophical questions on evolution and preservation.[11][12][13] Within the Stargate franchise, particularly Stargate SG-1, the Others denote the collective of ascended beings—primarily the ancient Alterans known as the Ancients—who have transcended physical form to exist on a higher plane. First alluded to in early episodes following the series premiere on July 27, 1997, but deeply explored in season 8's "Threads" on April 8, 2005, the Others enforce strict non-interference policies with non-ascended species, intervening only to punish violations like Anubis's partial ascension. This governance sparks ethical debates among characters such as Daniel Jackson, who ascends and grapples with the Others' impartiality versus compassionate aid, touching on themes of power, morality, and the burdens of god-like existence across multiple episodes. The concept underscores the franchise's broader mythology of ascension as both a reward and a restrictive evolution.[14] The 2016 film adaptation The 5th Wave, directed by J Blakeson, portrays the Others as insidious extraterrestrial invaders orchestrating humanity's near-extinction through phased assaults. In the movie, released on January 22, 2016, the Others initiate four catastrophic waves—electromagnetic pulses, tsunamis, plagues, and child soldier indoctrination—before infiltrating society disguised as humans via implanted consciousnesses, expanding the source novel's abstract alien threat into visceral, on-screen horrors like Silencer assassins. This adaptation amplifies survival themes by emphasizing personal betrayals and guerrilla resistance led by protagonist Cassie Sullivan, played by Chloë Grace Moretz, while visually depicting the aliens' emotionless precision to heighten tension in a post-apocalyptic world. The film's expansions focus on the psychological toll of infiltration, differentiating it from the book's more internal monologues.[15][16][17] In the animated series The Amazing World of Gumball, the episode "The Others" from season 4 introduces meta-fictional elements through overlooked schoolmates who embody the expansive, absurd universe beyond the main cast. Aired on August 20, 2015, the story follows Gumball and Darwin Watterson discovering that their sister Anais attends a higher grade, unveiling a horde of previously invisible students and staff at Elmore Junior High who live parallel lives indifferent to the protagonists' chaos. This revelation propels comedic attempts to infiltrate their world, employing the series' signature fourth-wall breaks and surreal humor to satirize narrative focus, where the "Others" serve as background figures suddenly thrust into prominence, enhancing the show's self-aware animation style. The episode uses this device to humorously critique selective storytelling in ensemble casts.[18][19]Literature
Novels
"Others" is a 1999 horror novel by British author James Herbert, published by Macmillan, centering on private investigator Nicholas Dismas, a hunchbacked man who uncovers a sinister network involving deformed children and supernatural elements in a secluded English village setting that evokes isolation and eerie hauntings.[20] The narrative explores themes of societal rejection, redemption, and the blurred line between human monstrosity and the paranormal, as Dismas's investigation into missing infants leads to the enigmatic Perfect Rest home, revealing dark secrets tied to eugenics and otherworldly forces. Although completed before Herbert's death in 2013, the book stands as one of his later works, blending psychological thriller elements with classic horror motifs.[21] The Night Watch series by Russian author Sergei Lukyanenko, beginning with "Night Watch" in 1998 and published by Akt-Sfb in Moscow, is an urban fantasy saga set in contemporary Russia where "Others" denote humans awakened to supernatural abilities such as magic, shapeshifting, and vampirism, divided into Light and Dark factions bound by an ancient treaty to maintain balance among ordinary humans.[22] The series, spanning five main novels including "Day Watch" (2000), "Twilight Watch" (2004), "Last Watch" (2006), and "New Watch" (2012), unfolds primarily in Moscow, detailing the enforcement of the treaty by the Night Watch (Light Others monitoring Dark) and Day Watch (Dark Others monitoring Light), with protagonists like Anton Gorodetsky navigating moral ambiguities, power struggles, and the Twilight realm—a liminal space between reality and the supernatural.[23] Lukyanenko's works emphasize philosophical questions of good versus evil, free will, and coexistence, achieving international acclaim through translations and adaptations.[5] In Jean M. Auel's Earth's Children series, comprising six historical fiction novels published by Bantam Books from 1980 to 2011—"The Clan of the Cave Bear" (1980), "The Valley of Horses" (1982), "The Mammoth Hunters" (1985), "The Plains of Passage" (1990), "The Shelters of Stone" (2002), and "The Land of Painted Caves" (2011)—the term "Others" refers to Cro-Magnons (modern humans) as perceived by the Neanderthals (the Clan), highlighting cultural clashes, survival, and interspecies interactions during the late Paleolithic era around 30,000 BCE. The series follows Ayla's journey as a Cro-Magnon child adopted by a Neanderthal clan, where she faces prejudice as an "Other" due to her physical and intellectual differences, to her integration with her own kind, exploring themes of empathy, innovation, and the extinction of Neanderthals through detailed anthropological and archaeological reconstructions.[24] Auel's narrative structure builds across volumes to depict human evolution, mating, and societal development, drawing on extensive research into prehistoric life while fictionalizing emotional and relational dynamics.Short stories and other works
The Survivor and Others is a posthumous collection of fantasy and horror short stories compiled by American author August Derleth from fragments, notes, and outlines left by H.P. Lovecraft after his death in 1937. Published in 1957 by Arkham House in an edition of 2,096 copies, the volume features seven works, six of which were completed by Derleth—including the title story "The Survivor," which depicts a mysterious house in London harboring an ancient evil tied to Lovecraft's cosmic horrors; "Wentworth's Day," involving a vengeful spectral return; "The Peabody Heritage," exploring inherited curses from eldritch entities; "The Gable Window," where a spectral figure signals otherworldly intrusion; "The Lamp of Alhazred," centering on a forbidden artifact linked to the Necronomicon; and "The Salem Horror," reviving witch-trial terrors with Mythos elements—and the longer "The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath," a complete novella by Lovecraft depicting a dreamworld odyssey against godlike beings. These stories emphasize themes of cosmic insignificance and incomprehensible forces, expanding the Cthulhu Mythos through Derleth's interpretations of good versus evil in Lovecraft's indifferent universe. A 1971 Ballantine Books paperback edition made the collection more accessible to wider audiences.[25][26] "The Others," a science fiction short story by J. Hunter Holly (also known as Joan C. Holly), appeared in the 1973 anthology The Other Side of Tomorrow, edited by Roger Elwood and published by Random House. The narrative follows Emelen, a young inhabitant of a confined, metal-walled environment shared with fifty similarly deformed companions—all children with physical anomalies raised in isolation by unseen caretakers who provide food and instruction but enforce strict boundaries. As Emelen and his peers mature and question their limited existence, they discover hints of a vast outside world, leading to a rebellion driven by curiosity and a desire for normalcy. The story culminates in their escape attempt, revealing the tragic truth of their origins as experimental subjects in a dystopian society that views them as "others"—outcasts unfit for integration—thus probing deep themes of alienation, societal rejection, and the human cost of scientific hubris in a 1960s-1970s speculative vein. Though not originally in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, it echoes the era's anthology pieces on isolation, such as those in F&SF exploring human disconnection.[27] In poetry, R.S. Thomas, the Welsh poet and Anglican priest known for his stark depictions of rural Wales, addressed otherness through works like "The Other" from his 1972 collection H'm (published by Macmillan). The poem evokes silent nights in the countryside where the speaker hears distant wildlife—an owl and a fox—prompting reflection on an unseen "other being" awake alongside him, whose presence breaks isolation through shared prayer and awareness, extending "not like this for a few hours, but for days, years, for eternity." Thomas uses this to meditate on rural solitude, the divine as an outsider intruding on human loneliness, and the Welsh landscape's harsh separation of self from society, portraying "the other" as both spiritual companion and enigmatic stranger amid themes of faith and existential divide. His 1970s output, including collections like Selected Poems 1946-1968 (1970), frequently positions outsiders—farmers, God, or the marginalized—as foils to communal norms, emphasizing isolation in industrializing Wales.[28][29] Post-2000 speculative fiction includes novels like The Others by T.C. Weber (2024, Atmosphere Press), a dystopian tale set in underwater habitats off the Florida Keys where protagonist Will Myers, a marine biologist, investigates a corpse with anomalous features—webbed feet and gills—uncovering a hidden society of bio-engineered humans facing environmental collapse and corporate exploitation. Drawing on identity crises in oppressive systems reminiscent of Philip K. Dick's explorations of reality and self (as in anthologies like The Complete Stories of Philip K. Dick, though not directly adapted), the novel examines "otherness" through genetic outsiders navigating surveillance, prejudice, and survival in a flooded world, blending thriller elements with critiques of biotechnology and climate dystopia. It appears in collections inspired by Dick's legacy, prioritizing philosophical questions over action.[30]Film and television
Films
The Others (2001) is a psychological horror film directed by Alejandro Amenábar, who also wrote the screenplay.[31] Starring Nicole Kidman as Grace Stewart, a devout mother living in isolation on the Channel Island of Jersey in 1945 with her two photosensitive children (played by Alakina Mann and James Bentley), the film explores themes of grief, isolation, and the supernatural after the arrival of three new servants (Fionnula Flanagan, Eric Sykes, and Elaine Cassidy).[31] Grace begins to suspect the house is haunted by ghosts, leading to escalating tension and revelations about her family's reality.[32] Produced as a Spanish-American-French co-production with a budget of $17 million, it grossed over $209 million worldwide, marking a significant commercial success for Amenábar's English-language debut. The film received critical acclaim for its atmospheric tension, Kidman's performance, and twist ending, earning eight nominations at the Goya Awards, including Best Picture.[32] Les autres (English: The Others, 1974) is an Argentine-French drama directed by Hugo Santiago, with a screenplay co-written by Santiago, Adolfo Bioy Casares, and Jorge Luis Borges.[33] Starring Maurice Born as the bookseller Spinoza, Noëlle Châtelet as Valérie, and featuring Patrice Dally and Pierrette Destanque, the film follows Spinoza's quest to understand his son's suicide by seeking out the young man's friends and uncovering a web of relationships, writings, and mysteries in a rural setting.[33] Themes of political exile, identity, and existential loss are woven into the narrative, reflecting the era's socio-political tensions in Argentina.[34] Premiering at the 1974 Cannes Film Festival, it was praised for its surreal, literary style influenced by Borges' metaphysical elements and Santiago's atmospheric direction.[33] The Others (1997) is an American coming-of-age drama directed and written by Travis Fine.[35] Starring Devon Odessa as a would-be rock star, Phillip Rhys Chaudhary, Jennifer Aspen, Derrex Brady, and Bodhi Elfman as a group of high school misfits, the film centers on their plan for an elaborate senior prank on the last day of classes, delving into themes of adolescent rebellion, friendship, and hidden family secrets amid personal insecurities.[35] Produced as a low-budget independent feature, it highlights the dynamics of youth navigating social hierarchies and self-discovery in a suburban American setting.[36] Others (2025) is a Tamil-language indie crime thriller directed by debutant Abin Hariharan.[37] Starring Aditya Madhavan as a police officer, Gouri G. Kishan, Anju Kurian, and Munishkanth, the film investigates a series of cases involving infants born via IVF who develop severe medical conditions, uncovering ethical dilemmas in reproductive technology and societal marginalization of the "othered" families.[38] Released on November 7, 2025, it emphasizes social otherness through its portrayal of class divides and medical exploitation, receiving mixed reviews for its ambitious ideas but uneven execution.[37]Television series
The Others is an American supernatural horror television series that premiered on NBC on February 5, 2000, and concluded after one season on June 10, 2000, comprising 13 episodes each approximately 40 minutes in length. Created by John Brancato and Michael Ferris, and produced by DreamWorks Television and Delusional Films, the series centers on a secretive group of individuals possessing various psychic abilities who assist one another in navigating encounters with the supernatural and the spirit world. The narrative follows protagonist Marian Kitt, a shy college student in Boston played by Julianne Nicholson, who begins experiencing visions of the dead and joins the group known as "The Others" to understand and control her emerging gifts. Supporting cast includes Gabriel Macht as detective Mark Krelian, who has telepathic skills, and Bill Cobbs as Father Llewellyn, a medium who communicates with spirits. The show delves into thematic elements such as the blurred boundaries between the living and the deceased, the psychological toll of paranormal experiences, and ethical dilemmas in using psychic talents for investigation. Despite critical reception noting its atmospheric tension and ensemble dynamics, with a 64% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 14 reviews, the series was not renewed due to low viewership ratings.[39][40][41] In contrast, Os Outros (The Others) is a Brazilian urban thriller drama series produced by Globoplay, the streaming arm of Rede Globo, with its first season debuting on May 31, 2023. Created and written by Lucas Paraizo in collaboration with Fernanda Torres, Flávio Marinho, and Patrícia Andrade, the series spans two seasons totaling 24 episodes as of late 2024, with each season consisting of 12 installments released in weekly blocks of two episodes. Set in a middle-class condominium in Rio de Janeiro's Barra da Tijuca neighborhood, the plot revolves around two neighboring couples—Cibele and Amâncio (portrayed by Adriana Esteves and Thomás Aquino), a white Brazilian family, and Wando and Raquel (Milhem Cortaz and Maeve Jinkings), a Black couple—whose lives unravel after a playground altercation between their teenage sons escalates into a cycle of revenge, deception, and violence. Key thematic elements include the fragility of social dialogue, escalating intolerance, family secrets that surface amid conflict, and broader issues of social exclusion and class tensions in modern Brazil, as neighbors' prejudices and personal traumas fuel absurd and increasingly dangerous confrontations. The series received acclaim for its sharp social commentary and strong performances, earning an 8/10 rating on IMDb from over 1,100 user reviews, and was later broadcast on Rede Globo's linear TV starting April 18, 2024. A third season is confirmed for release in 2026, continuing to explore the fallout from prior events.[42][43][44] While full series titled The Others dominate the television landscape, isolated episodes bearing the name appear in various anthology formats, such as supernatural-themed installments in shows like Fringe (Season 2, Episode 8, 2009), where it refers to alternate-reality intruders, though these standalone uses do not form serialized narratives and remain secondary to the dedicated programs above. No major streaming revivals of the 2000 American series have occurred by November 2025, though both series are available on platforms like Tubi for the former and Globoplay for the latter.Music
Groups and labels
The Others is an English indie rock band known for their garage rock revival style, formed in London at the start of the 2000s. Led by vocalist and frontman Dominic Masters, the group includes guitarist Jimmy Lager, bassist Johnny Others, and drummer Martin Oldham, building a cult following through raw, energetic performances and guerrilla-style tactics in the mid-2000s London scene. Their self-titled debut album, released in 2005 on Alan McGee's Poptones label, captured their lo-fi, post-punk-infused sound and marked them as part of the UK's garage rock resurgence alongside acts like The Libertines and The Strokes.[45][46] The band signed to Mercury Records in 2007 and experienced lineup changes and label shifts over the years, releasing their second album Inward Parts (2006) on Poptones, followed by Songs for the Disillusioned (2013), Look At You All Now (2023), but faced challenges with commercial success amid the shifting indie landscape. Despite periods of inactivity, The Others remained sporadically active, with recording sessions for new material documented in late 2022 at Brixton Hill Studios. By 2025, they continue to tour and perform, celebrating milestones like their 20th anniversary with live shows and the launch of their fifth studio album, Difficulties Understanding, which features tracks blending their signature garage edge with matured songwriting.[47][48][49][50] Other musical entities bearing the name include an earlier American garage rock band called The Others, formed in 1964 in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, influenced by the British Invasion and active through the mid-1960s with singles on small labels. In the realm of record labels, Other Side Records, established in 1985 by house music pioneer Marshall Jefferson in Chicago, specialized in early acid and deep house releases, contributing to the genre's foundational sound with tracks like "The House Music Anthem (Move Your Body)." No prominent electronic acts named "The Others" or "Others" were notably active as of 2025, though the name occasionally appears in niche underground projects.[51][52]Albums and songs
The Others is the debut studio album by Australian electronic music duo Dukes of Windsor, released on September 2, 2006, through the independent label BangOn! Records. The album blends electro, rock, and dance elements, showcasing the duo's production style influenced by 1980s synth-pop and contemporary club music. It features 12 tracks, with the title track serving as the lead single. The album received positive reviews for its energetic beats and catchy hooks, though it did not chart on major Australian albums lists; critics noted its potential in the electronic scene, praising tracks like "So Beautiful" for their melodic accessibility.[53][54] The track listing is as follows:- You Scream (2:08)
- The Others (3:29)
- Handsome Man (2:54)
- So Beautiful (4:25)
- A La Na Na Na (3:15)
- Banter (0:43)
- Lover Now (4:22)
- Kings Of Sound (3:11)
- The Pretty Girls (5:17)
- Boy Inside The Radio (2:32)
- Tear This Party Down (4:28)
- Children Of Tomorrow (4:38)
- Cruel (4:21)
- Into the Red (2:46)
- Come Alive (3:51)
- Alien Girl (3:43)
- Let Go (2015 Version) (2:24)
- Odyssey (2:55)
- All the Way (3:40)
- Unite (feat. Rob Harvey) (3:48)
- The Others (4:05)
- Calling (3:55)
- What's Up? (3:35)